Scott’s Blog Experience

I want to applaud Councilman Eric Turner who wants to see $200,000 in the 2008 budget for new sidewalk construction on two sections of Antoinette. You can’t expect kids or adults for that matter to stop walking in the streets if you don’t have an alternative route, visa-a-vi sidewalks.

Turner, who spoke Monday before a class at Peoria High School, said the fact there are no sidewalks on some streets near some District 150 schools has not gone unnoticed by students.

‘how can any of you guys be city (officials) and give out tickets when there are no sidewalks,’” Turner said

However, I would have to ask if $200,000 is enough? The way I see it driving around the City, (including the South Side, and East Bluff) we are in desperate need of new curbs, sidewalks and other infrastructer that helps not only pedestrians, but will improve the quality of life in all parts of the City. More importantly we need it NOW. The decay of sidwalks, no sidewalks, curbs, and alley ways, could spur other financial benifits from private investors coming back into our neighborhoods. With a large capitol improvement project, and then offering a TIF to home owners that spend $20,000 or more on a single or multi residential home, the City could spark a wave of private investment into old dingy homes. In the long run the City then could assess property value much higher. (there already good at that with no improvements). While the City Council debates on who’s district should get priority first, and trying to rob peter to pay paul. I say put it on a referendum or apply for Federal money to do it.

I mean really, who wants to rehab a home when sidewalk and curbs are crumbling? If anything else, I hope this incident involving the students of Mannual, and the Peoria Police Department, sheds light on the need to fix crumbling curbs and sidwaks in our City….Read the Story Here

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